1 Corinthians 7 Parallel Bible Translations

1 Corinthians 7 ▼
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1 Now concerning the things of which ye wrote to me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman. Now concerning the matters about which you wrote: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.”
2 Nevertheless, to avoid lewdness, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband. But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband.
3 Let the husband render to the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife to the husband. The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.
4 The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife.
5 Defraud ye not one the other, except with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan may not tempt you for your incontinence. Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a limited time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer; but then come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
6 But I speak this by permission, and not as a commandment. Now as a concession, not a command, I say this. I say this as a concession, not as a command.
7 For I would that all men were as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift from God, one after this manner, and another after that. I wish that all were as I myself am. But each has his own gift from God, one of one kind and one of another. I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.
8 I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they remain even as I. To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single, as I am. Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do.
9 But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn. But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
10 And to the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband.
11 But if she shall depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife. (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife. But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.
12 But to the rest I speak, not the Lord, if any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she is pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her.
13 And the woman who hath a husband that believeth not, and if he is pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him.
14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.
15 But if the unbelieving departeth, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases; but God hath called us to peace. But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace. But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace.
16 For how knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife? For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife? How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
17 But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all churches. Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.
18 Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not become circumcised. Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised.
19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God. For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts.
20 Let every man continue in the same calling in which he was called. Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.
21 Art thou called being a servant? care not for it; but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather. Were you a bondservant when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so.
22 For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's free-man: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant. For he who was called in the Lord as a bondservant is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a bondservant of Christ. For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave.
23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. You were bought with a price; do not become bondservants of men. You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings.
24 Brethren, let every man in the state in which he is called, continue in it with God. So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God. Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.
25 Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment as one that hath obtained mercy from the Lord to be faithful. Now concerning the betrothed, I have no command from the Lord, but I give my judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.
26 I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be. I think that in view of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he is. Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for a man to remain as he is.
27 Art thou bound to a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife. Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be free. Are you free from a wife? Do not seek a wife. Are you pledged to a woman? Do not seek to be released. Are you free from such a commitment? Do not look for a wife.
28 But if thou marry, thou hast not sinned: and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless, such will have trouble in the flesh; but I spare you. But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a betrothed woman marries, she has not sinned. Yet those who marry will have worldly troubles, and I would spare you that. But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.
29 But this I say, brethren, The time is short. It remaineth, that both they that have wives, be as though they had none; This is what I mean, brothers: the appointed time has grown very short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none, What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not;
30 And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no goods, those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep;
31 And they that use this world, as not abusing it. For the fashion of this world passeth away. and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away. those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.
32 But I would have you without anxious care. He that is unmarried, is anxious for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: I want you to be free from anxieties. The unmarried man is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to please the Lord. I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord.
33 But he that is married, is anxious for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife. But the married man is anxious about worldly things, how to please his wife, But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife—
34 There is a difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman is anxious for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy, both in body and in spirit: but she that is married, is anxious for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. and his interests are divided. And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit. But the married woman is anxious about worldly things, how to please her husband. and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband.
35 And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction. I say this for your own benefit, not to lay any restraint upon you, but to promote good order and to secure your undivided devotion to the Lord. I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.
36 But if any man thinketh that he behaveth himself uncomely towards his virgin, if she hath passed the flower of her age, and need so requireth, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry. If anyone thinks that he is not behaving properly toward his betrothed, if his passions are strong, and it has to be, let him do as he wishes: let them marry—it is no sin. If anyone is worried that he might not be acting honorably toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if his passions are too strong and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. They should get married.
37 Nevertheless, he that standeth steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well. But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, he will do well. But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind not to marry the virgin—this man also does the right thing.
38 So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better. So then he who marries his betrothed does well, and he who refrains from marriage will do even better. So then, he who marries the virgin does right, but he who does not marry her does better.
39 The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband is dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord. A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord. A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord.
40 But she is happier if she so remain, after my judgment; and I think also that I have the Spirit of God. Yet in my judgment she is happier if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God. In my judgment, she is happier if she stays as she is—and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.
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